Novena to mark St John Vianney anniversary

St John Vianney parish in Dublin’s Artane is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the ordination of St John Vianney, patron saint of priests, with a novena from August 4-13.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will be the chief celebrant at the opening Mass at 10am on August 4, the feast of St John Vianny, and the concluding Mass on August 13 marks the date of the saint’s ordination.

St John Vianney, also known as the Curé d’Ars, was a French parish priest who became famous for his radical spiritual transformation of the community in Ars and its surroundings.

The novena will involve daily Mass at 10am with veneration of relics, a holy hour and Confession.